THE PIG ON THE FARM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2249, 8 April 1897, Page 6

THE PIG ON THE FARM.

Wby do Americans respeot pigs ? the simple rtason that there is money, immense stores of wealth, in them. They keep about 40 millions of them, and they expirt pork products to the value of about £12,000,000 annually. Australians do not half uso the pig. Most of the skimmed milk from the butter factories goes to waste. Skimmed milk is ficatclass food for pigs, bub it requires to be mixed with something which will restore the fab which has been taken from it by the separator. Lumps of salt should be placed within the reach of all pigs, and a little tulphu'r mixed with their food will have a beneficial effect. They are also extremely fond of coal cinders, and they will cab coal itself. Pigs should also be supplied with pure fresh water, and tha water-trough should be frequently cleaned out. If c'eanlinets, plenty of fresh air, clean water, regularity of, feeding, and shelter are attended to, jou will not be troubled with much disease or death amoDg your pig*. Bicon piga sell best from 1101b to 130 ib, and when of good quality with, cay, an inch of fat on back, will bring better price 3in the market than when kepb longer. Large numbers of pigs are spoilt by keeping too long. There arc many breeds of pig 3to select from, each having its own f-pecial qualities. The improved Bsrkshira being a black pig, and one not given to go too much to gross fab, ia a great favourite in Australia. The Tamwcrth is a deep lean pig much liked by makers of bacon. The large white Yorkshire is a great feeder, and puts all bis food to good use, but being a, thic-skinned pig is not suitable for warm climates. The improved Essex dispUy good qualities and make a good cross. If a pure Eerkshiro boar is crossed with five-haired crossbred aowa better results will ba obtained by the smaller farmers than by breeding from purebred Berkshires. Such sows are better mother*, being of a quieter disposition and better sticklers. As pig-breeding is influenced to a great extent by climate, it will bo found that the cross mentioned will produce the hardiest pigs. They are rapid growers on dairy farm*, and should weißh dressed when four and a-half months old 1101b. If ordinary care is taken in the feeding piga of this size would suit »11 parts of Australia, as the long hair will protect them from either extreme heat or cold weather. In a. pager read by an American farmer recently before his Agricultural Association upon " The Advantages of the Hog on the Farnv' the author of tii9 paper indulged in the following enthusiastic peroration : — I would not have you infer that I wish to unduly depreciate other classes of live stock on the farm. Far from it ; but hog-growing to-day is receiving the greates j attention of all other industries pertaining to American agriculture. Tha pig is the farmer's be3b friend. He pays the t^xes, clothes the family and lifts the mortgages — all these toa, in many instances, with nothing for a covering but tha canopy of heaven, and nob a decent placo to lay his head.

It has been said : — For big money, breed horses ; for sure money, cattle, and for quick money, bogs. Yet to-day we might combine these three sayings in one, and assert that for big,. sure, and quick money breed hogs. And now for a couple of verses on the autocratic porker, and I have done : Ton may talk about your venison, Yer bar meat and your fowl, You may blow your horn 'bout everything From turkey down to owl. You may chirp about your quail on toast, And such as that you see, But the fine old-fathioned porker } Is good enough for me. [ You folks that's living in the town on dried up ', macaroni An 1 codfish balls an' terrapin and secondhand polony, Come out into the country once, Yer welcome and yer free ; You'll Had the porker good enough. For either you or me. — The Australasian Dairyman and Farmer*' Friend.